Fearing that someone else might cause trouble, Zhang Xiu decided to stay overnight in the county.
Wanwan didn't want to leave either, so she stayed with Zhang Xiu.
As dusk fell, the hooligans and thugs who had come to cause trouble during the day were finally released from the government office.
On their way back as the sun set, everyone was filled with anger.
"Boss, that woman has some shady characters helping her this time, we can't beat them!" A younger thug approached Scarface cautiously, speaking in a fawning tone.
Scarface, his face bruised and battered, was already furious. Hearing his underling's words only made him more enraged. "Can't beat them? Can't you think of another way? Do you even have a brain? Do you know what it means to outsmart someone?"
It was just a casual remark made to vent anger, but it seemed to suddenly light up the eyes of the underlings. Another burly man smiled obsequiously and came over, "Boss, I know, doesn't the Wan family have some supernatural powers helping them? Let's ask them for help."
Scarface raised an eyelid, and the fat on his face twitched. "How exactly will you help?"
The man chuckled and said, "Let's just hire someone skilled in martial arts to dress up as a ghost at Wan Jia Restaurant. Once people see it, we can spread the word and see who dares to eat there..."
Scarface's lips twitched, and he remained silent for a long time, as if he were thinking seriously. Then, he suddenly smacked the person who gave the idea on the head and shouted angrily, "You know it, so hurry up and do it!"
"Yes, yes, yes." The man quickly covered his head and ran away as fast as he could.
That night, an unlucky passerby saw a strange white figure outside the Wanjia Restaurant while walking at night.
The figure was elusive, as if possessed by divine power, flying back and forth around the corner of the restaurant. After flying for a while, it quietly stopped at the entrance of the restaurant, its back to people.
The figure was slender with narrow shoulders and waist, and long hair was loose behind her head. She looked like a woman, and if you listened carefully, you could hear faint sobs.
The streets were dark and a cool breeze swept through, giving everyone goosebumps.
In the stillness, the woman's cries sounded even more piercing. The unfortunate passerby mustered his courage and approached, only to discover when he was about ten feet away from the strange woman that she had no feet at all, but was floating erratically in the air.
At this moment, the woman also noticed someone approaching and seemed about to turn around.
The passerby frantically covered his eyes, scrambling away in terror. His fear caused him to scream so loudly that it woke up the neighbors for eight blocks.
Before dawn, rumors of haunted restaurants had already spread to every corner of the small county town, and within a night, they were already causing quite a stir.
The rapid spread of rumors dealt a fatal blow to Wan Jia Restaurant's business.
The Wanjia Restaurant was practically deserted at noon the following day, a stark contrast to the bustling crowds of the previous days.
Wanwan sat in front of the door, propping herself up on her arms, and dozed off to the sound of the accountant fiddling with the abacus. Her little head bobbed up and down like a fisherman following the rhythm of the abacus beads.
Zhang Xiu, who was sulking, sat next to her.
My store was vandalized yesterday, and today my business is being affected by inexplicable rumors. It's obvious who's behind this without even thinking.
Zhang Xiu grew angrier the more he thought about it, so he rolled up his sleeves and declared decisively, "I don't believe in ghosts! Tonight, I'll drag this ghost out and show it to everyone!"
The accountant paused in his fiddling with the beads.
Half asleep, Wanwan heard her aunt say "catching ghosts" and instantly woke up, jumping off the stool. "Auntie, Auntie, Wanwan wants to go too! Wanwan wants to help Auntie catch ghosts!"
The little dumpling looked full of fighting spirit, even imitating his aunt by rolling up his sleeves to reveal a chubby arm, like a little general about to go to war.
"Wanwan can protect Auntie!"
She put her hands on her hips, her face beaming with confidence and excitement.
The midday sun cast a soft golden glow on her fair, jade-like skin, and when she opened her small mouth, two tiny canine teeth were revealed.
Zhang Xiu's heart melted, and her anger vanished completely.
She knelt down, placed her hands on Wanwan's small shoulders, and said patiently, "Wanwan, catching ghosts is no easy task. You're too young, it's too dangerous. How about Auntie finds someone to take you home later?"
She patiently tried to persuade her, but Wanwan patiently refused, her little mouth gradually pouting, and her whole body shaking. "No! Wanwan is worried about Auntie, Wanwan wants to stay and protect Auntie."
Zhang Xiu said with a hint of helplessness, "Auntie is an adult now."
Wanwan mischievously stuck out her tongue, "Adults need protection too! Wanwan is here to protect Auntie."
She took Zhang Xiu's hand and rubbed against it like a kitten, her eyes almost overflowing with pleading and grievance. No matter how hard-hearted Zhang Xiu was, he couldn't resist Wanwan's request and had no choice but to agree.
As night fell, Wanwan, carrying a small lantern, followed Zhang Xiu to the place where ghosts were said to have been seen in the rumors.
The summer night was very cool, the moonlight was bright and clear, and the cool, shimmering light covered the two people, one big and one small, making them look quite beautiful.
The lantern she carried swayed back and forth as she walked, her shadow swaying with each step, the small black shadow dancing lively in the silvery moonlight.
Zhang Xiu led Wanwan to a secluded spot, where they squatted down and blew out the candles.
Wanwan stared intently at the last wisp of white smoke emanating from the candle flame, lingering before her eyes. She puffed out her cheeks and blew the smoke away.
The view suddenly became much clearer, and a sense of joy flashed through Wanwan's heart. She felt as happy as if she were visiting a friend's house rather than catching ghosts.
She obediently squatted down next to Zhang Xiu, looking boredly at the corner of the neighbor's wall across the street, where a low wall cast a shadow and a few orchids grew.
The time spent waiting seemed to pass exceptionally long, and children are not suited to waiting. Wanwan grew tired of looking at the low wall and orchids, and her eyelids soon began to droop. Her body involuntarily leaned towards Zhang Xiu.
Just as she was about to fall asleep, a faint crying sound suddenly came from the darkness.
Wanwan suddenly woke up and pricked up her ears to listen.
The sound grew closer, thin and shrill, sounding particularly eerie in the silent night, yet its exact location remained a mystery.
Just then, the moon was hidden behind the clouds, making this only source of light even dimmer.
Zhang Xiu felt a chill run down his spine as he listened to the elusive voice.
She looked down at Wanwan, thinking that Wanwan had never seen such a strange scene before, so she decided to take Wanwan back.
Unexpectedly, Wanwan's almond-shaped eyes sparkled with excitement. "Auntie, Wanwan isn't afraid! Let's hurry up and catch the ghost!"
She seemed really happy, talking about catching ghosts as if she were talking about going to eat candy.
Zhang Xiu calmed down, patted his curved head, and whispered, "Okay, let's do it together."
So the two, one big and one small, tiptoed around the restaurant, searching for the source of the sound.
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